Rhododendron obtusum &#39;Melle&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Azalea  plant named ‘Melle’, characterized by its unusually attractive clusters of red purple white margined double hose-in-hose larger than normal bi-colored blossoms with darker blotches at the center of corolla, which retain their beautiful appearance even in inclement weather. When compared to its peers this new cultivar has proven to be a very late bloomer. It forms an upright and outward spreading vigorous shrub with a freely branching habit and medium green foliage on a plentiful basis that turns to and remains bright orange until late winter. It has nonetheless exhibited excellent heat and drought tolerance.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea,botanically known as Rhododendron obtusum and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Melle’. This new Azalea cultivar was discovered bythe Inventor in Oostakker, Belguim, as a naturally occurring mutation ofthe non patented Rhododendron Obtusum ‘Rosa’. The new Azalea varietyoccurred as a single plant within a population of the here abovementioned parent cultivar. This new variety of Azalea obtuse wasselected with regard to its many differences in flower colors.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Melle’ by terminal cuttingstaken in various locations both in Europe and the US has shown that theunique characteristics of this new Azalea plant are stable andreproduced true to type successively, from one generation to another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Plants of the new Azalea cultivar named ‘Melle’ have not been observedunder all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may somewhatvary with fluctuations in environment such as light intensity, daylength, temperature and fertility levels without however any variationin genotype.

-   -   1. Forms sturdy and unusually attractive clusters of red purple        white margined double hose-in-hose larger than normal bi-colored        blossoms with darker blotches at the center.    -   2. Forms upright and outward spreading vigorous shrub.    -   3. Exhibit's a freely branching habit.    -   4. Forms medium green foliage on a plentiful basis that turns to        and remains bright orange until late winter.    -   5. Has proven through testing in various locations to be a very        late bloomer when compared to its peers.    -   6. Exhibits excellent heat tolerance.    -   7. Exhibits drought tolerance.    -   8. Has achieved a nearly 100% take rate through terminal        cuttings propagation.

Substantially as herein shown and described.

In a side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Oostakker,Belgium and by the Assignee in Vaujours, France, it appears that plantsof the new Azalea cultivar differ from their parent cultivar,Rhododendron Obtusum ‘Rosa’ by the following features:

-   -   1. Bears unusually attractive clusters of red purple white        margined double hose-in-hose bicolored blossoms with darker        blotches at the center.    -   2. Has proven through testing in various locations to be a later        bloomer than its parent cultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new azalea hybrid variety is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographic prints in which:

1. FIG. 1 is a close-up showing flower color and flower form.

2. FIG. 2 shows growth habit and heavy blooming qualities.

3. FIG. 3 shows a young plant, 11(eleven) months after rooting in May2004.

The colors shown are as true as is reasonably possible to obtain byconventional photographic procedures. The colors of the various plantparts are defined with reference to The Royal Horticultural SocietyColor Chart. Description of colors in ordinary terms are presented whereappropriate for clarity in meaning.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Botanical name of taxon: Rhododendron obtusum.-   Common name of taxon: Japanese Azalea.-   Variety denomination: Melle.-   Foliage: Foliage exhibit's the same characteristics as parent    cultivar.-   Young leaf: Color of upper side is medium green.-   Mature leaf:    -   -   Length.—Long.        -   Width.—Medium.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Color of upper side.—Dark green.        -   Color of lower.—Medium green.        -   Shape of apex.—Mucronate.-   Flowers: Forms sturdy and unusually attractive clusters of red    purple white margined double hose-in-hose larger than normal    bicolored blossoms with darker blotches at the center.-   Pedicel length: Medium to long.-   Calyx: Present.-   Calyx formation of a corolla form: Absent or very weak.-   Flower:    -   -   Diameter.—Large.        -   Shape.—Funnel-shaped.        -   Fragrance.—Absent to very weak.        -   Flower.—Type of corolla: double.        -   Corolla lobe.—Color of margin of upper side: white RHS 155D.        -   Corolla lobe.—Color of middle of upper side: red-purple RHS            57 C/D.        -   Corolla lobe.—Color of middle of lower side: red-purple RHS            57 D.        -   Corolla lobe.—Undulation of margin: absent to very weak.        -   Flower throat.—Conspicuousness of markings: strong.        -   Flower throat.—Type of markings: spots touching each other.        -   Flower throat.—Color of markings: red-purple RHS 60 A/B.        -   Flower throat.—Color compared to color of middle of upper            side of corolla lobe: lighter.        -   Time of flowering.—Very late.

1. I claim a new and distinct variety of Azalea plant named ‘Melle’ asillustrated and characterized by the following combination of traitswhich have repeatedly been observed and determined as being the uniquefeatures of this new variety of Azalea.